This thesis is a study of Ceranälu, its kings,
chieftains and poets.
In the Preface it is stated what works are
considered Cankam and post-Cankam. The Preface also gives
a description of the State of Kerala as it is today.
Some references are made to Ceranäju by the
classical geographers and these are discussed in Chapter I.
It has been noted that some of these allusions are confirmed
by references from the Cankam works.
Most of the references to Ceranatu are found in
Puranänüru and Patirruppattu and these are discussed in
Chapter II. The references from the akam poems are discussed
in Chapter III. It has been noted that in akam poems,
mention is freely made d places, mountains and rivers and
of the kings, their valour and generosity.
In Chapters IV and V are discussed the post-
Cankan references. It has been noted that some of these
works are elaborations of motifs contained in the Cankam
works. The general term of the Cera ruler and the names of
some of the places mentioned in the Cankam works take a
slightly different form in these works. References are freely
made to Ceranätu, its places and kings in Tevaram,
Periyapurkam and Tiruvilaiyä, - arpurdrýam. An attempt at
royal chronology is made in Keralolpatti.
Chapter VI contains the discussion of the people
of various regions of Ceranatu and their occupations as seen
from the Cankam works. The people whose names are indicative
of their occupations are also discussed in this Chapter.
It has been noted that one such people, the Ayar, even became
rulers and were as valorous and generous as the kings.
The kings and chieftains of Ceranatu, their
generosity and their feats are described in Chapter VII.
Chronology of these rulers is shown wherever possible.
References are also made to the poets who lauded kings and
chieftains and to those who are likely to have been natives
of Ceranatu.
In Chapter VIII it is shown that although some
Kotuntamil words used in the different regions of Ceranä4u
are found in early Tamil literature, Centamil was the court
language even as late as the days of the Perumals.
The last Chapter, IX, contains the general
conclusions drawn from these discussions.